Method and Apparatus for Sealing French Doors for a Freezer Compartment

ABSTRACT

An appliance having at least a freezer compartment. The appliance may include a pair of freezer doors accessing the freezer compartment. The freezer compartment may include one or more freezer shelves. A mullion may include a movable portion and a fixed portion for sealing the pair of freezer doors.

BACKGROUND

The present embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for scalingFrench doors for a freezer compartment integrated into an appliance.

Typical French doors for use on a freezer include a vertical casebetween two freezer compartments to seal the French doors, therebycreating a left and right side freezer compartment. The remaining casecompletely surrounds each freezer compartment. However, this practicewhen French doors are used on the freezer compartment reduces the size(e.g. width) of each freezer compartment, meaning a single freezercompartment (e.g. left or right) does not extend fully across theappliance. Moreover, the internal freezer shelves are correspondinglysized to the individual, left or right, freezer compartment (e.g. halfwidth compartment) and do not extend typically beyond the width of asingle door, as such they do not extend fully across the width of theappliance. Moreover, if an articulating mullion is attached to one ofthe freezer doors the price and complexity may adversely increase. Thus,there is a need to seal a full width freezer compartment with Frenchdoors and still be able to deploy one or more shelves or bincompartments though the opening allowed by both doors in the openposition instead of limiting the width of the freezer shelf.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments of the invention, for example, an appliance havingat least a freezer compartment may comprise a housing. Moreover, thehousing may include at least a freezer compartment and may define anopening into the freezer compartment. In various embodiments, theappliance may include a pair of freezer doors rotatably attachedadjacent the opening into the freezer compartment to the housing, eachof the freezer doors may have an open position and a closed position toallow access to the freezer compartment. In some embodiments, theappliance may include one or more freezer shelves slidably mountedwithin the freezer compartment, wherein the one or more freezer shelvesmay be disposed within the freezer compartment when the one or morefreezer shelves are in a closed position and is at least partiallydisposed outside the freezer compartment when the one or more freezershelves are in an open position and each of the freezer doors are in theopen position. In addition, in some embodiments, the appliance mayinclude a mullion separating the opening into a pair of openings. Invarious embodiments, the mullion may include a fixed portion and amovable portion combining to provide a sealing surface for receipt ofthe pair of freezer doors. In some embodiments, the movable portion ofthe mullion may be positionable relative to the fixed portion of themullion between a sealed position and an unsealed position differentfrom the sealed position, wherein when the one or more freezer shelvesare in the closed position the movable portion may be in the sealedposition and the pair of freezer doors may sealingly engage the sealingsurface of the combined fixed portion and the movable portion of themullion, and wherein when the one or more shelves are in the openposition the movable portion is in the unsealed position.

In some embodiments, the one or more freezer shelves may pivot themovable portion of the mullion at least from the sealed position. Invarious embodiments, the movable portion of the mullion may pivotbetween the sealed position and the unsealed position. In addition, insome embodiments, the movable portion may pivot about a hinge, wherein apivot axis of the hinge is substantially horizontal. In variousembodiments, the movable portion of the mullion may be fixedly attachedto the one or more freezer shelves, wherein the movable portion of themullion travels with the one or more freezer shelves from the closedposition to the open position. In some embodiments, the appliance mayinclude a heater adjacent the mullion. Moreover, in various embodiments,the one or more freezer shelves may have a width larger than a width ofthe opening within the freezer compartment covered by at least onefreezer door when the freezer door may be in the closed position. Insome embodiments, the appliance may further comprise a fresh-foodcompartment.

In various embodiments, a shelf system for at least a freezercompartment having a pair of French doors may comprise one or morefreezer shelves each having a front side and an opposing back side. Insome embodiments, one or more freezer shelves may be slidably mountedwithin a freezer compartment. In various embodiments, the freezer shelfmay be disposed within the freezer compartment when the freezer shelf isin a closed position and is at least partially deployed outside thefreezer compartment when the freezer shelf is in an open position.Moreover, in some embodiments, at least one portion of a mullion may bein a sealed position and disposed in front of the front side of the oneor more freezer shelves when in the closed position. In someembodiments, deployment of one or more freezer shelves from the closedposition to the open position may displace the at least one portion ofthe mullion to an unsealed position.

In addition, in some embodiments, at least one portion of the mullionmay return to the sealed position when positioning one or more freezershelves to the closed position. In various embodiments, at least oneportion of the mullion may be attached to the one or more freezershelves and may be positionable between the closed position and the openposition with one or more freezer shelves. In various embodiments, themullion may further comprise a fixed portion, wherein at least oneportion in the sealed position and the fixed portion of the mullion maycombine to provide a sealing surface for receipt of a pair of freezerdoors. In addition, in some embodiments, at least one portion of themullion may be pivoted between the sealed position and the unsealedposition. In some embodiments, the shelf system may be in combinationwith an appliance having the freezer compartment.

In various embodiments, a method of sealing French doors on a freezercompartment may comprise the step of providing a freezer compartmentwith an opening thereto. In some embodiments, the method may includeproviding a pair of freezer doors rotatably attached adjacent theopening into the freezer compartment to the housing, each of the freezerdoors having an open position and a closed position to allow access tothe freezer compartment. In addition, in some embodiments, the methodmay include providing one or more freezer shelves mounted within thefreezer compartment, wherein the freezer shelf may be disposed withinthe freezer compartment when the freezer shelf is in a closed positionand is at least partially disposed outside the freezer compartment whenthe freezer shelf is in an open position and each of the freezer doorsare in the open position. In various embodiments, the method may includeproviding a mullion separating the opening into a pair of openings,wherein the mullion may include a fixed portion and a movable portioncombining to provide a sealing surface for receipt of the pair offreezer doors. In some embodiments, the method may include moving theone or more freezer shelves from the closed position to the openposition may reposition the movable portion of the mullion from a sealedposition to an unsealed position.

In addition, in some embodiments, the method may include moving the oneor more freezer shelves from the open position to the closed positionmay reposition the movable portion of the mullion from the unsealedposition to the sealed position. In various embodiments, the step ofmoving the one or more freezer shelves from the closed position to theopen position may include the step of pivoting the movable portion ofthe mullion from the sealed position to the unsealed position. In someembodiments, the step of pivoting the movable portion of the mullionfrom the sealed position to the unsealed position may include pivotingthe movable portion about a pivot axis that is either vertically orhorizontally orientated. In some embodiments, the movable portion of themullion may be fixedly attached to the one or more freezer shelves. Insome embodiments, wherein the step of moving the one or more freezershelves from the closed position to the open position includes the stepof sliding the movable portion of the mullion with the one or morefreezer shelves between the sealed position to the unsealed position. Invarious embodiments, the method may include the step of heating themullion.

These and other advantages and features, which characterize theembodiments, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and form afurther part hereof. However, for a better understanding of theembodiments, and of the advantages and objectives attained through itsuse, reference should be made to the Drawings and to the accompanyingdescriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments.This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of conceptsthat are further described below in the detailed description, and is notintended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used in limiting the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the sameparts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed uponillustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged front perspective view of one embodiment of anappliance, with portions of the appliance broken away, having at least afreezer compartment illustrating one or more shelves in a closedposition and an embodiment of a movable portion of a mullion in a sealedposition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 illustrating the one or more shelves in an open position and themovable portion of the mullion in an unsealed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of an appliance, withportions of the appliance broken away, illustrating one or more shelvesin a closed position and another embodiment of a movable portion of amullion in a sealed position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front perspective view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 3 illustrating the one or more shelves in an open position and themovable portion of the mullion in an unsealed position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front perspective view of an appliance, withportions of the appliance broken away, illustrating in solid lines oneor more shelves in a closed position and another embodiment of a movableportion of a mullion in a sealed position and in broken lines one ormore shelves in an open position and the movable portion of the mullionin an unsealed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art, as will become apparent from the descriptionbelow. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specificimplementations discussed herein.

The embodiments discussed hereinafter will focus on the implementationof the hereinafter-described techniques and apparatuses within aresidential refrigerator appliance such as refrigerator appliance 10,such as the type that may be used in single-family or multi-familydwellings, or in other similar applications. However, it will beappreciated that the herein-described techniques and apparatuses mayalso be used in connection with other types of refrigerator appliancesin some embodiments. For example, the herein-described techniques may beused in commercial applications in some embodiments. Moreover, theherein-described techniques may be used in connection with variousrefrigerator appliance configurations. Implementation of theherein-described techniques within refrigerators, bottom freezerrefrigerators, top freezer refrigerators, wine refrigerators andbeverage centers, compact refrigerators, standing freezers, side by siderefrigerator, etc. using French doors would be well within the abilitiesof one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instantdisclosure, so the embodiments are not limited to the bottom freezerrefrigerator implementation discussed further herein. In someembodiments, the appliance or device utilizing the sealing method andapparatus for a cavity or compartment need not be a freezer, or evenrefrigerated.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an example refrigeratorappliance 10 in which the various technologies and techniques describedherein may be implemented. Refrigerator appliance 10 is depicted in thisexample as a four-door or T-type refrigerator, and as such includesfront-mounted French doors 12 in a cabinet or housing 14 that providesaccess to the freezer compartment 13 housed within the cabinet orhousing 14. Similarly adjacent pivotable French doors 16 may provideaccess to the fresh-food compartment 15 and when in the open position(FIG. 1), food and beverage items may be inserted into and removed fromthe fresh-food compartment 15. French doors 12 are rotatably attached tothe housing 14 adjacent the freezer compartment 13 and/or opening 13 a.French doors 12 are generally provided with a hinge 17 along acorresponding side or front edge of the housing 14 adjacent the freezercompartment 13 and is pivotable between a closed position (not shown)and an open position illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. When French doors 12 arein the open position, food and beverage items may be inserted into andremoved from the freezer compartment 13 through the French doors 12 or,alternatively, through an opening in the door 12. Moreover, when theFrench doors 12 are in the open position, one or more compartment bins,baskets, or shelves 20 may be deployed from the freezer compartment 13.

Control over refrigerator appliance 10 by a user is generally managedthrough a control panel, which can be disposed on a door such as a doors12, 16. Control panel can also be disposed within the freezercompartment 13 in another embodiment, or in multiple doors, and can beutilized with a user interface for the refrigerator appliance 10. Itwill be appreciated that in different refrigerator appliance designs,the control panel may include various types of input and/or outputdevices, including various knobs, buttons, lights, switches, textualand/or graphical displays, touch screens, etc. through which a user mayconfigure one or more settings.

As shown in the Figures, the substantially full width freezercompartment 13 may be subdivided by one or more partitions or mullions30, 130, 230 adapted to seal the one or more French doors 12. Themullion 30, 130, 230 provides a sealing surface 31 for the receipt ofone or more of the French doors 12 (e.g. one or more gaskets). Thefreezer compartment 13 may extend substantially across the width of theappliance 10 as shown, or alternately may be a variety of sizes (e.g.widths), shapes, quantities, constructions, etc., and still be withinthe scope of the invention herein. The outer case or housing 14surrounding the freezer compartment 13 may define an opening 13 a intothe freezer compartment. The mullion 30, 130, 230 may intersect theopening 13 a in one or more configurations with a variety ofpositions/orientations. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the mullion 30, 130 issubstantially vertical and/or aligned centrally within the opening 13 a.In the embodiment shown, the mullion 30, 130 separates the opening 13 ainto a pair of openings 13 b, 13 c, with a corresponding French door 12disposed over a respective opening 13 b, 13 c. In FIG. 5, anotherconfiguration of a mullion 230 is shown intersecting the opening 13 a ofthe freezer compartment 13 creating two different shaped openings 13 b,13 c.

As shown in the Figures, the refrigerator appliance 10 may include oneor more mullions 30, 130, 230 to seal the French doors 12 of the freezercompartment 13. In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the mullion 30,130, 230 includes one or more movable portions 32 combined with one ormore fixed portions 34. The combined movable portion 32 and the fixedportion 34 of the mullion 30, 130, 230 may provide the sealing surface31 for the gasket of one or more portions of at least one French door12. The one or more movable portions 32 may be positionable relative tothe one or more fixed portions 34 of the mullion 30, 130, 230, freezercompartment 13, freezer compartment opening 13 a, housing 14, and/orshelf 20 between a sealed position (FIGS. 1, 3, and 5) and an unsealedposition (FIGS. 2, 4, and 5) different from the sealed position. Themovable portion 32 of the mullion 30, 130, 230 may be disposed in frontof at least a portion of the one or more shelves 20 when in at least thesealed position. More specifically, the movable portion 32 may bedisposed between the one or more shelves 20 and the French doors 12 whenin the closed position. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and4, the movable portion 32 may remain disposed in front of the one ormore shelves 20 in the unsealed position. In the embodiments shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, the movable portion 32 of the mullion 30, 230 may bedisposed out from in front of the one or more shelves 20 when in theopen position. When in the sealed position, the sealing surface 31 ofthe combined fixed portion 34 and the movable portion 32 of the mullion30, 130, 230 sealingly engages the one or more of the French doors 12.The one or more movable portions 32 may be moved from the sealedposition towards the unsealed position in a variety of ways and pathssuch as but not limited to pivoted (e.g. up, down, and/or side),translated (e.g. up, down, left, right, and/or inwardly/outwardly),and/or rotated. It should be understood that the mullion 30, 130, 230and portions thereof may be a variety of constructions, materials,sizes, shapes, quantities, and orientations. The mullion, fixed portion,and/or movable portion may be a variety of materials and constructions.For example, the mullion may be made of plastic, stamped and/or paintedmetal (e.g. magnetic sealing surface). Moreover, for example, thesealing surface may include a metal surface. In some embodiments, themullion or portions thereof may be entirely of metal. Moreover, one ormore DC heaters (not shown) may be used with the mullion in someembodiments. The mullion, or portions thereof, may be heated. Forexample, contacts or a harness may be used to power the heater, if used,when the shelf 20 is in the closed position and/or the movable portion32 is in the sealed position. Further, foam may be used to provideadequate insulation values. In the embodiments shown in at least FIGS.1-4, the movable portion 32 may be vertically aligned with and/or abovethe fixed portion 34. The fixed portion 34 extends only partially or fora distance between the lower case and upper case of the housing 14defining the freezer compartment 13. The movable portion 32 and/or fixedportion 34 may be a variety of positions/orientations relative to eachother. For example as shown in FIG. 5, the movable portion 32 isvertically aligned with a lower portion 35 of the fixed portion 34, withthe fixed portion 34 extending from the upper case to the lower case ofthe frame. Further, for example, one embodiment of the mullion mayinclude one or more movable portions vertically positioned between anupper fixed portion and a lower fixed portion of the mullion. As shownin the Figures, the fixed portion 34 or partition of the mullion may beadapted to accommodate one or more shelves or compartment bins toretract and/or deploy from the freezer compartment 13 (e.g. throughopenings 13 b and/or 13 c). As such, the fixed portion 34 and therespective lateral side of the freezer compartment may include a slidingmechanism, rail, or the like for one or more shelves.

Although embodiments of the mullion are shown in the figures, it shouldbe understood that the mullion, fixed portion, and/or movable portionmay be of a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, orientations, andconstructions and still be within the scope of the invention. Forexample although a substantially vertical mullion is shown in theembodiments, a horizontal mullion or other combination oforientations/positions may include one or more fixed portions and/ormovable portions to define compartments.

A variety of bin compartments, containers, baskets, or shelves 20 may bereceived within the freezer compartment 13 for receipt and storage offood items. The one or more shelves 20 may move between a closedposition (FIG. 1) and an open position (FIG. 2). The one or more shelves20 may be disposed within the freezer compartment 13 when in the closedposition and at least partially disposed outside the freezer compartment13 when in the open position. In some embodiments, the one or moreshelves 20 may be disposed outside the freezer compartment 13 in theopen position when each of the French doors 12 are in the open position.Alternatively stated, the shelf 20 may not be able to extend to the openposition when a single French door 12 is closed. The one or more shelves20 may be slidably mounted within the freezer compartment 13. In thisregards, the shelf may include slides or rails that are mounted onopposing sides of the shelf 20. It should be understood that othermechanisms may be used to retract and/or deploy the one or more shelvesrelative to the freezer compartment 13. Additionally, in someembodiments, the one or more shelves may be powered to extend/retractautomatically when one or both French doors are opened/closed.

The one or more shelves 20 may be a variety of shapes, sizes,constructions, quantities, and positions with the freezer compartment13. For example, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4, the one or morefreezer shelves 20 may have a width larger than a width of the opening13 b, 13 c of the freezer compartment 13 or covered by at least one door12 when the door is in the closed position. As a result, the one or moreshelves may substantially extend the entire width of the freezercompartment 13. The movable portion 32, when in at least the sealedposition, is disposed in front of the shelf 20 and is subsequentlydisplaced to the unsealed position to allow the one or more shelves topass through a larger area of the opening 13 a of the freezercompartment 13 previously interrupted by the movable portion 32 of themullion 30, 130, 230. In some embodiments, the one or more shelves 20may have a width less than the width of the freezer compartment 13. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the shelf 20 may not extend the entirewidth of the freezer compartment 13, however, the shelf 20 overlaps thelower fixed portion 35 and may be wider than the opening through a door12. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixed portion 34 may extend fromthe top wall to the bottom wall of the freezer compartment. The fixedportion 34 is stepped to the side creating a ledge 38 for the at leastone shelf 20. The ledge 38 may be substantially horizontal portion ofthe fixed portion 34 extending from the opening 13 a towards the rear ofthe freezer compartment 13. The movable portion 32, when in at least thesealed position (e.g. shown in solid lines), is disposed in front of theshelf 20, adjacent the ledge 38, above the lower fixed portion 35 of thefixed portion 34 to create the sealing surface. The movable portion 32pivots about the pivot axis 37 in relation to the upper fixed portion 39of the mullion fixed portion 34 when the shelf 20 is deployed from theclosed position to the open position.

In use, the position of the one or more freezer shelves 20 maycorrespondingly adjust the movable portion's 32 position relative to thefixed portion 34 of the mullion 30, 130, 230. The position of one ormore freezer shelves 20 into and/or out of the freezer compartment mayadjust the movable portion 32 between the sealed and unsealed position.In the embodiments shown, when the one or more freezer shelves 20 are inthe closed position, the movable portion 32 may be in the sealedposition. In the sealed position, the pair of freezer doors 12 maysealingly engage the sealing surface 31 of the combined fixed portion 34and the movable portion 32 of the mullion 30, 130, 230. Moreover, whenthe one or more shelves 20 are in the open position the movable portion32 may be in the unsealed position. One or more shelves may operate oneor more movable portions of the mullion. In some embodiments (e.g. FIGS.3-5), one shelf 20 may adjust one movable portion 32 of the mullion 130,230. In other embodiments, two shelves 20, an upper shelf 22 and/or alower shelf 24 (e.g. separately or together), may each reconfigure onemovable portion 32 of the mullion 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2). In addition, insome embodiments, one shelf may reposition one movable portion andanother shelf may reposition another movable portion. It should beunderstood that a variety of mechanisms, devices, and/or other portionsof the appliance, alone or in combination with the one or more shelves,may adjust the movable portion of the mullion between the sealed andunsealed positions.

As shown in the Figures, the movement of the movable portion 32 maycoincide with the movement of the one or more movable shelves 20 and/ormay allow the shelves to pass through a larger area of the opening 13 aof the freezer compartment 13 previously interrupted by the movableportion 32 of the mullion 30, 130, 230. In some embodiments, the movableportion 32 is disposed in front of the one or more shelves 20 in thesealed position, when the doors may be in closed position and/or theopen position. The movable portion 32 of the mullion 30, 130, 230 may bedisplaced or repositioned between the sealed position and the unsealedpositions. In some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the one ormore freezer shelves 20 may pivot the movable portion 32 of the mullion30, 230 at least from the sealed position towards the one or moreunsealed positions. The movable portion 32 may pivot about a hinge 36between the sealed position and the unsealed position. As shown in FIGS.1 and 2, the movable portion 32 of the mullion 30 pivots about a hinge36 having a pivot axis 37 being in a substantially horizontalorientation/plane. Although the hinge 36 connects the fixed portion 34to the movable portion 32, the hinge 36 and/or movable portion 32 may bea variety of orientations, positions (e.g. sealed and/or unsealedpositions), constructions, shapes, sizes, and still be within the scopeof the invention. For example, the hinge 36 of the movable portion 32may be in a substantially vertical orientation/plane as shown in FIG. 5.Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the movable portion 32 swings or pivots tothe side instead of upwards and/or downwards (FIG. 2). In someembodiments, one or more movable portions 32 may be hingedly attached tothe housing 14 (e.g. surrounding the opening 13 a) instead of or incombination with being attached to the fixed portion 34 of the mullionas shown.

The movable portion 32 may be positioned from the unsealed position tothe sealed position and/or from the sealed position to the unsealedposition in a variety of ways and constructions. In the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the movable portion 32 may include one ormore torsional springs (not shown). Once the shelf is closed orretracted, the movable portion 32 may be under spring torsion and isurged to return to the sealed position or disposed back in front of theone or more shelves to create the sealing surface for the pair offreezer doors. If a spring is used in some embodiments, a damper may beincluded. In some embodiments, a user may need to return the movableportion 32.

The movable portion of the mullion may be moved or repositioned in avariety of ways between the sealed position and the unsealed position,not limited to pivoting shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. In some embodiments,the mullion may translate (e.g. linear direction) between the sealedposition and the unsealed position. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, themovable portion 32 of the mullion 130 translates with the one or moreshelves 20. The movable portion 32 may be fixedly attached to the one ormore freezer shelves 20. The shelf 20 may include a front side 26adjacent the opening 13 a of the freezer compartment 13 and an opposingback side. The movable portion 32 of the mullion 130, attached to thefont side 26 of the shelf, is positionable between the closed position(FIG. 3) and the open position (FIG. 4) with the freezer shelf 20. Themovable portion 32 may travel or be carried with the one or more freezershelves 20 from the closed position (FIG. 3) to the open position (FIG.4). The movable portion 32 of the mullion 130 is attached to the frontside 26 of the shelf 20 (e.g. disposed in front of the shelf 20) and isin the sealed position with the fixed portion 34 of the mullion 130 whenthe shelf 20 is in the closed position. When the shelf 20 is in the openposition, the movable portion 32 is in the unsealed position, and mayalso be described as being disposed in front of the shelf in someembodiments. Further, the movable portion 32 returns to the sealedposition (FIG. 3) with the shelf when the shelf 20 retracted to theclosed position. In some embodiments, if a heater is used, an electricalconnection may be restored when the movable portion 32 returns to thesealed position.

While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein,those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety ofother means and/or structures for performing the function and/orobtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages describedherein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to bewithin the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally,those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters,dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant tobe exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials,and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application orapplications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in theart will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routineexperimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments describedherein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoingembodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within thescope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described and claimed.Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individualfeature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. Inaddition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems,articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, isincluded within the scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood tocontrol over dictionary definitions, definitions in documentsincorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the definedterms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in thespecification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to thecontrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in theclaims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements soconjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some casesand disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with“and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” ofthe elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be presentother than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause,whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when usedin conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer,in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other thanB); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionallyincluding other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should beunderstood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. Forexample, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall beinterpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, butalso including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and,optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated tothe contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when usedin the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactlyone element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or”as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusivealternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded byterms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or“exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of.” when used in the claims,shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “atleast one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should beunderstood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more ofthe elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including atleast one of each and every element specifically listed within the listof elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the listof elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified within the listof elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “atleast one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) canrefer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including morethan one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements otherthan B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally includingmore than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionallyincluding more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including morethan one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to thecontrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one stepor act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarilylimited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method arerecited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitionalphrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,”“containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are tobe understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limitedto. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consistingessentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases,respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual ofPatent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

It is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Unless limited otherwise, theterms “connected,” “coupled,” “in communication with,” and “mounted,”and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct andindirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms“connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted tophysical or mechanical connections or couplings.

The foregoing description of several embodiments of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or formsdisclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teaching.

1. An appliance having at least a freezer compartment comprising: ahousing having at least a freezer compartment and defining an openinginto the freezer compartment; a pair of freezer doors rotatably attachedadjacent the opening into the freezer compartment to the housing, eachof the freezer doors having an open position and a closed position toallow access to the freezer compartment; one or more freezer shelvesslidably mounted within the freezer compartment, wherein the one or morefreezer shelves are disposed within the freezer compartment when the oneor more freezer shelves are in a closed position and is at leastpartially disposed outside the freezer compartment when the one or morefreezer shelves are in an open position and each of the freezer doorsare in the open position; a mullion separating the opening into a pairof openings, wherein the mullion includes a fixed portion and a movableportion combining to provide a sealing surface for receipt of the pairof freezer doors; and wherein the movable portion of the mullion ispositionable relative to the fixed portion of the mullion between asealed position and an unsealed position different from the sealedposition, wherein when the one or more freezer shelves are in the closedposition the movable portion is in the sealed position and the pair offreezer doors sealingly engage the sealing surface of the combined fixedportion and the movable portion of the mullion, and wherein when the oneor more shelves are in the open position the movable portion is in theunsealed position.
 2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the one or morefreezer shelves pivots the movable portion of the mullion at least fromthe sealed position.
 3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the movableportion of the mullion pivots between the sealed position and theunsealed position.
 4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the movableportion pivots about a hinge, wherein a pivot axis of the hinge issubstantially horizontal.
 5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein themovable portion of the mullion is fixedly attached to the one or morefreezer shelves, wherein the movable portion of the mullion travels withthe one or more freezer shelves from the closed position to the openposition.
 6. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a heateradjacent the mullion.
 7. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the one ormore freezer shelves have a width larger than a width of the openingwithin the freezer compartment covered by at least one freezer door whenthe freezer door is in the closed position.
 8. The appliance of claim 1further comprising a fresh-food compartment.
 9. A shelf system for atleast a freezer compartment having a pair of French doors comprising:one or more freezer shelves each having a front side and an opposingback side, wherein the one or more freezer shelves are slidably mountedwithin a freezer compartment, wherein the freezer shelf is disposedwithin the freezer compartment when the freezer shelf is in a closedposition and is at least partially deployed outside the freezercompartment when the freezer shelf is in an open position; and at leastone portion of a mullion is in a sealed position and disposed in frontof the front side of the one or more freezer shelves when in the closedposition, and wherein deployment of the one or more freezer shelves fromthe closed position to the open position displaces the at least oneportion of the mullion to an unsealed position.
 10. The shelf system ofclaim 9 wherein the at least one portion of the mullion returns to thesealed position when positioning the one or more freezer shelves to theclosed position.
 11. The shelf system of claim 9 wherein the at leastone portion of the mullion is attached to the one or more freezershelves and is positionable between the closed position and the openposition with the one or more freezer shelves.
 12. The shelf system ofclaim 9 the mullion further comprising a fixed portion, wherein the atleast one portion in the sealed position and the fixed portion of themullion combine to provide a sealing surface for receipt of a pair offreezer doors.
 13. The shelf system of claim 9 wherein the at least oneportion of the mullion is pivoted between the sealed position and theunsealed position.
 14. The shelf system of claim 9 in combination withan appliance having the freezer compartment.
 15. A method of sealingFrench doors on a freezer compartment comprising the steps of: providinga freezer compartment with an opening thereto; providing a pair offreezer doors rotatably attached adjacent the opening into the freezercompartment to the housing, each of the freezer doors having an openposition and a closed position to allow access to the freezercompartment; providing one or more freezer shelves mounted within thefreezer compartment, wherein the freezer shelf is disposed within thefreezer compartment when the freezer shelf is in a closed position andis at least partially disposed outside the freezer compartment when thefreezer shelf is in an open position and each of the freezer doors arein the open position; providing a mullion separating the opening into apair of openings, wherein the mullion includes a fixed portion and amovable portion combining to provide a sealing surface for receipt ofthe pair of freezer doors; and moving the one or more freezer shelvesfrom the closed position to the open position repositions the movableportion of the mullion from a sealed position to an unsealed position.16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of moving the oneor more freezer shelves from the open position to the closed positionrepositions the movable portion of the mullion from the unsealedposition to the sealed position.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein thestep of moving the one or more freezer shelves from the closed positionto the open position includes the step of pivoting the movable portionof the mullion from the sealed position to the unsealed position. 18.The method of claim 17 wherein the step of pivoting the movable portionof the mullion from the sealed position to the unsealed positionincludes pivoting the movable portion about a pivot axis that is eithervertically or horizontally orientated.
 19. The method of claim 15wherein the movable portion of the mullion is fixedly attached to theone or more freezer shelves, wherein the step of moving the one or morefreezer shelves from the closed position to the open position includesthe step of sliding the movable portion of the mullion with the one ormore freezer shelves between the sealed position to the unsealedposition.
 20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step ofheating the mullion.